Career mentor: The late Vann Lefcoe at McGuireWoods; my colleague George Whitley; and TowneBank President Morgan Davis

Tell us about your company. We are a qualified intermediary, wholly owned by TowneBank, one of Virginia’s top-ranked community banks. Our service helps our customers obtain tax deferral and the ability to leverage funds to acquire property that works best for them. I know each of our customers as they have entrusted us with their funds and with properly documenting their exchanges. I love when someone says: I’ve talked to three people, and they all told me to call you.

Why are there a growing number of 1031 exchange companies in Virginia? Despite a few additional legal requirements put into place after 2008, the barrier of entry is still very low. Values have recovered; the market is active with sellers seeing the possibility of moving into more suitable properties. The need for the service brings providers. It is important to go with someone you know and trust, to follow all the rules to avoid an IRS challenge and, most importantly, keep your funds safe.